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Living Free - May 8, 2007

Thoughts for Today The seventh commandment serves to protect and purify the sexual urge and the marriage relationship. When followed, the commandment protects against the degradation of human relationships that accompanies adultery.

As with all the Ten Commandments, God gave this one out of love for us. He wants to protect individuals and families from the hurt that adultery is sure to bring. God knows that breaking this commandment will rob people of peace, love and affection while giving them misery and sorrow.

Consider this ...We are surrounded by sexually impure thoughts and behavior—movies, television programs and even advertisements. Unless we stay focused on God and the pureness and beauty of the marriage relationship, it can be so easy to stray. Getting emotionally involved with someone or indulging in a little fantasizing now and then might seem innocent enough at first, but adultery is usually committed in stages like these before the actual act occurs.

Be on guard. Don't allow yourself to get into compromising situations. And above all, focus on God and trust him to help you be all that he wants you to be.

Prayer ...Father, help me to be faithful to my spouse—mentally, emotionally and physically. In Jesus' name ...

These thoughts adapted from ...Ten Commandments small group guide is written in a way that helps people see the Ten Commandments in light of today's problems. Knowing that there are absolutes that define moral conduct and ethical decisions is essential for believers surrounded by relativistic values. This guide helps us understand God's boundaries. It shows how the Ten Commandments apply today. It also discusses the biblical laws on which the legal codes of every civilized society are based.